Lurgan community shocked at police killing
FEAR and tension had gripped the people of Lurgan due to the upturn of violence in November 1982.
FEAR and tension had gripped the people of Lurgan due to the upturn of violence in November 1982.
Lurgan had been relatively calm in the previous few years but the community was shocked by the killing of three policemen and three IRA men within a couple of weeks.
The lack of any demonstrations and confrontations with the police following the deaths of the three IRA men led many to believe that the Provos were planning a major act of retaliation.
The police, too, were bracing themselves to counter any act of revenge by the IRA. A police spokesman said: "In the light of the recent murders we have given warnings to the public.
"Police in Lurgan are on a state of high alert and road checks are operating to prevent, disrupt and detect movement of terrorist gangs."
There were extra security forces on the ground and individuals were warned to increase their personal security. A Sinn Fein spokesman said the people were afraid to go out because they were expecting something to happen.
Meanwhile, a community leader had told the "MAIL" that tensions in the town had heightened after the killings. He said: "It is a vicious spiral of violence and if there is going to be any end to it then the people are going to have to make it clear that they don't want it."
Pleas for restraint and reconciliation were made by clergy and local politicians.
The latest was by a Roman Catholic Cardinal who described the series of murders as a "frightening litany of death."
He said: "If my appeal for peace and reconciliation will not be heeded then at least the anguished cries of widows and fatherless children and bereaved families must be listened to."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Lurgan
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
